Talbot scores third period hat trick in Aces win
Published on March 11, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Joe Talbot registered the second hat trick of his pro career in the third period alone, helping Alaska rally past Long Beach, 5-3, in front of 5,320 Saturday at Sullivan Arena.
Alaska maintained an eight-point bulge over Las Vegas and Bakersfield in the race for the Brabham Cup, awarded to the ECHL club with the best regular season record. With Idaho losing again at home, the Aces reduced their magic number for clinching a third straight West Division title to four.
Alaska scored first for the 16th straight game, as Joe's younger brother, Julian Talbot, tucked a rebound just underneath the crossbar for a power play goal at 11:40 of the first period. The Ice Dogs responded with two goals in less than two minutes to begin the second period. Mark Hurtubise scored his second goal in as many nights from between the circles at 1:19, and when a drive from Terry Harrison from near the blue line squeezed through Aces goalie Isaac Reichmuth, Alaska found itself trailing for the first time in 10 games dating to February 13. The score remained 2-1 in favor of Long Beach heading to the third period, marking the first time since January 21, a span of 22 contests, that the Aces would have to rally when down after two periods.
Joe Talbot started the comeback by sliding home a rebound on another power play just 1:18 into the final period, and Steven Later gave Alaska the lead for good at 3-2 when he blasted a one-timer past Ice Dogs netminder Brett Jaeger at the 3:46 mark. Talbot scored on another rebound, again on the power play, with 10:28 remaining to increase the margin to 4-2, but Alexei Smirnov brought Long Beach back to within a goal less than a minute later. The Ice Dogs never got the equalizer against Reichmuth, who finished with 27 saves, and Talbot completed his hat trick by burying an empty-netter with 40 seconds showing on the clock.
For the second straight night, the Aces scored three times on the power play, and leading scorer Kimbi Daniels (third in the ECHL) assisted on three of Alaska's five goals. The Aces, unbeaten in their last 17 games at home and 43-13-4 overall, look for their seventh straight win over Long Beach tomorrow at 5:05 p.m., with a Fred Meyer "Sunday Skate with the Aces" scheduled for immediately after the game. Tickets are available at participating Fred Meyer locations, by calling 258-ACES, or by logging onto www.alaskaaces.com.
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